Bong Go continues efforts to improve healthcare access in grassroots

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed his gratitude to the local government of Rodriguez, Rizal, and the Department of Health (DOH) for their roles in the successful groundbreaking of the town's new Super Health Center on Wednesday, October 11.

Go has advocated for the construction of Super Health Centers in strategic locations nationwide to bring primary care, medical consultations and early detection of diseases closer and more accessible in grassroots communities.

"Patuloy po akong tutulong sa pagpaparami ng Super Health Centers sa bansa sa abot po ng aking makakaya. Sa mga itinayo nang Super Health Centers, nakita namin kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong nito sa komunidad lalo na sa rural areas," said Go.

"It is a significant step towards enhanced healthcare services. Yun po ang layunin ng mga Super Health Centers, ang ilapit sa mamamayan ang serbisyong medikal ng gobyerno," he added.

Through the collective efforts of the Department of Health and fellow lawmakers, sufficient funds have been allocated for 307 Super Health Centers in 2022 and 322 in 2023. DOH, the lead implementing agency, identifies the strategic areas where they will be constructed.

The Super Health Center is an enhanced version of a rural health unit, offering basic health services such as database management, outpatient care, birthing facilities, isolation areas, diagnostic services (including laboratory tests, X-rays, and ultrasounds), pharmacy services, and ambulatory surgical units.

Additionally, these centers provide services such as eye, ear, nose, and throat (EENT) care, oncology centers, physical therapy and rehabilitation centers, and telemedicine, which enables remote diagnosis and treatment of patients.

Aside from Rodriguez, more Super Health Centers are funded across Rizal province, including two in Antipolo City and one of each in Binangonan, Jala-Jala, San Mateo, Taytay, Tanay, Angono, Cainta, and Cardona.

In line with Go's commitment to promote community welfare, his office distributed 50 food packs to indigent recipients. Additionally, t-shirts and balls for basketball and volleyball were given away to select beneficiaries.

As an adopted son of CALABARZON region, Go extended further support to residents who may need medical assistance from the government. Go mentioned that there are Malasakit Centers in the province that they can reach out to if they need support with their medical-related expenses.

A brainchild of Go, the Malasakit Centers program is designed to help ensure that indigent patients have convenient access to the medical assistance programs offered by partner agencies. Currently, there are 159 operational centers that have assisted more than seven million Filipinos nationwide, according to DOH.

In Rizal, the Malasakit Centers are located at Antipolo City Hospital System Annex IV, Casimiro A. Ynares Sr. Memorial Hospital in Rodriguez, Bagong Cainta Municipal Hospital, and Margarito A. Duavit Memorial Hospital in Binangonan.

Moreover, the senator is the principal sponsor and one of the authors of Republic Act 11959 or the Regional Specialty Centers Act. The said law mandates the establishment of Regional Specialty Centers within existing DOH regional hospitals.

Meanwhile, as vice chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go supported the construction of a multipurpose building and a streetlighting project in the said town, among other projects he advocated for in the province.

"Minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito. Kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong na pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa ay gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito. Ako po ang inyong Senador kuya Bong Go, patuloy na magseserbisyo sa inyong lahat. Dahil ako po ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo po sa tao ay serbisyo po 'yan sa Diyos," he concluded.

The groundbreaking ceremony was a significant gathering of local government officials and representatives from various agencies, all of whom were acknowledged by Go. Among the distinguished guests were Vice Governor Jun Rey San Juan, Mayor Ronnie Evangelista, and Vice Mayor Edgardo Sison, among others.